Guest Teacher Yoga Retreat

Samasthitihi in Every Pose

January 10-24, 2015

with Chuck Miller

About the retreat program:

A message from Chuck:

We have the method; the practice is to bring the method to Life!
We must fill in the blanks with our own experience, use what we feel in this moment, adjusting the practice to our present condition. And we must do this for a lifetime.

Together we can explore how to gather the wisdom that enables us to trust our inner voice. We can learn to let that inner voice guide us through the ever-changing Sea of Samsara. Halahala! Into the Sea of Amrita Bindhu! The âNectar of Immortality!â The transformation from Moha to Shantieh . . . Peace!

Why not! If we can loosen our grip on our current Beliefs, âempty our cupsâ and show up ready to learn, we can do it! Little by Little!

** This is a two-week retreat, but for those students who cannot commit to two full weeks, there is a one-week option.

About the Teacher

Chuck Miller

Chuck got into yoga through an interest in spirituality. This was first ignited at a young age by an interest in Native American culture and shamanism.

At the age of 17 he started a regular meditation practice and at 19 got disciplined with a regular pranayama and asana practice. Meditation, Pranayama and asana were a significant part of everyday from then on.

In 1980 Chuck met Sri K PattabhiJois(Guruji) on his third American tour in Fairfax California. He taught Chuck the Primary Series the first day of practice and then on Maui 2 months later he taught Chuck the entire Intermediate series in one session.

Chuck traveled to Mysore regularly and in 1983 – 1986 began the study of the advanced sequences. During 1991-1996 Chuck and his partner Maty learnt up to the beginning of 5th series. Guruji also taught them the traditional pranayama practice. They sat with him upstairs in the old Lakshmi Puramshala and practiced it with Guru-ji, or rather tried to keep up with him!

Chuck enjoys teaching with a focus on the holistic nature of Ashtanga Yoga, teaching it as both a philosophical system as well as a strong practical method. Chuck is known for his gentle but deliberate hands-on adjustments which are both reassuring and challenging.

Teaching since 1988 Chuck was Director of Ashtanga Yoga and was a co-owner of the original Yoga Works in Santa Monica, California for over 16 years.

Schedule

The program begins at 5pm on the first day of the retreat with a group welcome and departure is at 12pm on the last day.
The schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the teacher.

7.00 am

Morning Asana Class Description: Morning sessions will build slowly. They will work up to full Primary Series and will alternate between led and Mysore/self-practice.

10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Brunch buffet

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

AfternoonÂ Workshop Description: These will be theme-based, informed by what is needed, by what Chuck sees inthe morning sessions. Topics will include: exploring healthy functioning of the shoulders and hips, forward bends, twists, backbends, inversions, pranayama and meditation.

Add-On Programs

Combine your Retreat with a Health or Wellness Spa Add-On Program to make the most out of your stay. We invite you to enjoy rejuvenating massage and treatments at an exclusive rate - Enjoy a 10% discount on the Add-On Program of your choice.

Wellness Spa Add-On Program

Relax and enjoy our Wellness Spa Add-On Program, designed to nourish body and soul. Choose from a range of massage, beauty treatments and detoxifying therapies to compliment your time with us.

Health Add-On Program

Our Health Add-On Programs have been specially designed to help you rediscover health and vitality, and where necessary target areas of imbalance in your life. From our healthy detox, candida detox program to our de-stress program, our specially designed blend of treatments, nutrition and support ensure you meet your wellness goals.

We recommend you book in advance for your Health or Wellness Spa Add-On Program as much preparation work is required and space is limited.

Rates

Share two bedroom loft

Â Â Â Â â¬ 1,590 per person

Semi-Private room

Â Â Â Â â¬ 1,790 per person

Private room

Â Â Â Â â¬ 1,990 per person

Friend / Family Room & Board Rates

These are available to any registered Samahita Retreat guest's partner, family member or friend,
who is not interested in participating in any of the programs but will stay in a room and board capacity.
Shared accommodation, food, and the facilities are open to the Room & Board guest(s).

During our Peak periods, the friends and family rate applies to single and deluxe rooms only.

Deluxe One Bedroom Suite

We only have two deluxe one bedroom suites located in our most private building closest to the sea. They have a private bedroom, living room, fully equipped kitchen, generous bathroom and an extra large balcony. Both suites offer a modern open living room with sofa bed, LCD TV, working desk and DVD/ iPod Stereo. They are perfect for a family or couple. The additional rate is a flat rate based on the room and is added on to the total rate package whether a single individual, couple or family.

Deluxe One Bedroom Suite - Additional cost on the total program package:

2,100 per day

13,440 for one week

26,040 for two weeks

37,800 for three weeks

46,200 for four weeks

OurÂ guestroomsÂ are set back just over 50 meters from the water to provide with you with a private community and greater security. A selection of ourÂ roomsÂ enjoy this spectacular sea view, while others enjoy the tropical gardens scene.

It is possible to extend your time on detox day by day from an above program as fits your timeline. You can also add extra therapies and treatments to your program at a special discounted rate.

If you wish to combine or extend your stay to include a wellness program please use the Wellness Booking Form

All rates will be charged in Thai Baht at the time of booking. The following conversions are intended as a guide only. This currency converter uses inter-bank rates rather than the cash rates that apply to payments, so it is likely that the actual exchange rate will be different to what is indicated here.

Testimonials

Dear Chuck,

Thank you so much for a wonderful workshop this weekend. I wanted to tell you that your compassionate and calm approach to asana practice has helped me a lot.

I`ve been dealing with injuries for a long time. I`ve been utterly confused about what to do about them. I changed my practice, I tried different yoga styles and I tried fitting even more practice into my daily life. But all that time my ego was totally “driving the car”. I worked so hard, but with a constant nagging feeling that I should be doing more “look at those guys, they`re doing full first series every day, you should just work harder!”. My injuries just got worse.

During your workshop I really took time to slow down, to take care of myself and started tuning into my body/mind to really listen to what my body told me. These last two days my daily practice has been much less than I`ve ever done before but I feel so good! Letting my body tell me what to do instead of listening to my ego resulted today in my first pain-free asana practice in 6 months!

In a yoga community where people will stand on your back in paschimottanasana, or tell you that first series will cure all ills, voices like your`s and those present at Yogamudra really make a world of difference.

Thank you for a great lesson, I hope to attend many more of your workshops.

Kind regards.

~ Jofrid

“You started me on the path to kindness to myself. Thank you & happy birthday!”
This trip was legitimately life-changing for us. Chuck is a truly kind-hearted and knowledgable teacher. I took copious notes and really tried to âempty my cupâ to his conversations. â¨â¨I say âconversationsâ because he really engaged us in a way that transcended the typical student-teacher relationshipâ¦ These were discussions, not lectures. These conversations also allowed all of the students to become friends. I am certain that some of the friendships we forged in this workshop will last our lifetimes. I am eternally grateful.â¨â¨Through the many sessions, Chuck taught us abundantly while always bringing us back to this idea of âSamaâ – he was able to help us see our practice and bring much-needed balance to it. In a way, he gave us a tangible foundation to build our practice from – something we often overlook in the mad rush to reach the next pose! After all, you canât really âwinâ yoga! By refocusing in this manner we all left the workshop grounded both physically and metaphorically.â¨â¨I would urge anyone thinking about taking Chuckâs workshop down the road to do it. My words are a mere glimpse into this idea of âSamaâ – let yourself open to this idea – empty your cup – and watch your practice become stronger than you imagined!”

~ Christopher Pasinski

Dear Chuck,

Thank you!!

It is SO challenging to our ideals and not the answer my ego wanted to hear at all, but I accept the challenge of not driving for accomplishment. Â Well, at least I will re-evaluate my practice again in this light, after this reminder, and shift my focus and effort accordingly.

It is soooo much harder, more difficult, more radical indeed. Â But with the poses for which I did this following your retreat I can feel more opening already…but then that is an ‘achievement’ so am I back in the same cycle? Â Is it ok to achieve opening and to progress accordingly if it feels like I have ‘got there’ in a pose?

…And so the challenge of practice continues and deepens.

â¦I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for you to find the words to relay the concepts you teach with such clarity. Â Years of study, years of practice, all distilled for us to learn. Â And, as I recall, you didn’t even really want to teach until Guruji told you that you must. Â We are all so blessed that you do teach and that you have taken the time to distill these words. Â Thank you once again.

Wishing you peace.

With love,

~ Rowena x

Dear Chuck!

Many things changed since retreat. I feel like i got something really valuable. I fell in love with ashtanga again. Trying to implement all i learned there. Body is getting much better, feels like it is healing. Like the wholle structure is changing. Idea of opposite forces brought many things in awarenes in the body and mind.. Feels much better in daily life also. More centerness. For me it is deeper to do practice like this. I am very inspired to explore more this new thing.. tnx again

Dear Chuck,

I was at your workshop in Paris in May/June and I want to thank you very much. I have the impression that my practice has improved since attending the workshop, not because I have become more flexible or strong but because I think I understand the basic better. I am already looking forward to antother workshop with you. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

Warm regards,

~ Agnes

CJ wrote: “Chuck saved me from myself. I was fortunate to attend his April workshops in NoCal. I recorded one of the led primaries and it keeps me focused on protecting my joints and healing massive herniated disk in my back. Without his teaching I would have stopped practicing. Share what you’ve learned from Chuck with other Ashtangis… we need to amply his voice!”

Dear Chuck,

Thank you for a revolutionary workshop :)

I must admit that it was difficult at the start. Yet as the days progressed, I discovered a sweetness in the practice that was put aside with the overwhelming need to get to the end point that often moves further ahead as we get to it :). The sweetness of breath. The reverence of breath. What a different practice altogether.

The day you left, the next day after the workshop, I played tennis. I discovered samatitihi on the clay courts – imagine that. Gone was the ego and in its place was a search for balance and steadiness.